Apparatus for elevating casings.



E. DOUBLE & A. CRAIG.

APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING UASINGS. APPLIGATIUN FILED MAY 31, 1910.

1,614,955,, Patented Jan.16,1912.

3 :1 "M mm Ina/e niors Edward Double.

fiZZen Crag.

% Ma! Ma -To all whom it may concern:

' nnwm omain AND ALLEN came, on LOS anennns, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING- CASINGS'.

hotness.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Jan. to, 1912.

Application filed May 31, 1910. Serial No. 564,302.

Be it known that we, EDWARD DOUBLE and ALLEN CRAIG, citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, and State of California, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Elevating Casings, of which the following is a specifi-' cation.

This invention relates to apparatus for taking hold of well casings to elevate the same, and for handling well casings in the derrick.

The main object of the invention is to provide means for this purpose which do not require the lifting of heavy parts and which can be quickly and easily placed into or' out 7 of operating position in engagement with the casing.

pose, in which the main members of the elevator apparatus, which are necessarily of heavy construction, always remain in suspended position on the elevating means or line, the only parts which are removed being relatively small and light and capable of convenient removal or insertion by hand, the heavier parts being sustained, lifted and moved by mechanical power. I

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

- supported on the usual hook 2 attached to the line not shown, a main ring member 3 supported on said-loop 1, and an insertion member 4 adapted to be inserted within said ring member 3, as hereinafter set forth.

The ring member 3, is formed of suficiently strong and heavy construction to take the strain incurred in elevating-the casing, and is provided at diametrically opposite ortions' with pins or stud shafts 5 exten ing through eyes 6 in the lower ends of the loop member 1. Said loop memberl isalso necessarily of strong and hea construction, and is formed preferably in inverted V- shape with its slde members 1 converging upwardly and united by a band 7 at the upper end fitting over the suspension hook 2. The ring member 3 and the pins 5 thereon are preferably of integral or unitary construction and the suspension loop 1 is engaged over said pins by bending it into position with the eyes 6 thereon engaging said pins, so that when once formed in this mannor the parts remain in connected relation,

there being no possibility of dislodgment by Working loose of parts". In this connection itvwill be noted that the strainof suspension on the member 1 exerted through the down: wardly divergent arms 1f tends to hold said arms against the ring member, preventing dislodgment.

The insertion member 4 consists of a split sleeve formed in two portions 4 separated Another object of the invention is to pro- 3 vide an apparatus for the above stated puras shown at 8, the outer face of this sleeve forming an inverted frusto conical or down-. wardly tapering surface, and the interior space or bore 10 of the ring 3 being similarly shaped so as to fit the outside of said sleeve. Said sleeve has a flange 11 at the top on-both portions thereof adapted to rest on top of the ring 3.' Each of the portions 4: of the sleeve 4 is preferably provided with means, such as an eye 12, to receive a suspension means such as a line '13, facilitating removal and transportation of said sleeve portions, said line being of sufficient length to hook over the suspension hook 2 when the apparatus is in operation.

The interior space or bore 10 of the sleeve 3 is of sufficient diameter to pass freel over the largest portion of the casing 15 which is to be elevated, such largest portion being in general the coupling sleeves 16 at the ends of the sections or the headat the top of the string of sections. The bore 17 of the split sleeve 4, however, is of such diameter that said sleeve, when in position on the-ring 3, will fit closelyaround the casing 15 and will engage underneath the shoulder 16' formed by the sleeve head or collar 16 at the ,upper end of the casing.

The apparatus is used as follows: The

- main elevator member 3, with its suspension means 1, is brought into position over the casing, the split sleeve 4 having been removed, and is then lowered over the casing so as to surround the caslng somewhat below the enlargement or collar 16 thereon. This operation being performed by the suspension means 2 and its operating line without requiring manual operation of any heavy parts, these heavy parts 1 and 3 being lifted,

- moved and lowered by mechanical power.

The split sleeve 4 is then slipped into position, the two portions 1 thereof being placed at either side-of the casing 15 so as to embrace the same and extend under the enlargement 16, it being understood that the main member 3 has previously been lowered sufficiently to enable these parts to be slipped into such position. On then lifting the members 1 and 2 by the mechanical operating means, the split ring 4 is caused to en'- gage under the enlargement or collar 16, the apparatus thus engaging effectively with the casing for elevating same. To remove the apparatus from the casing, it is only necessary to lower the member 3 by its suspension means, the taper of the engaging portions of the members 3 and 42 then enabling their separation and the quick and convenient dislodgment of the sleeve 4 from the main ring 3. The sleeve members 4 are preferably left suspended by the rope or chain 13 to the book 2, thus retaining the whole apparatus in position for ready connection with another section of casing without the necessity. of removing any portion of the elevating means from the elevator line.

The function of the sleeve or insertion member 4 is to serve as an insertible block between the ring or elevator member 3 and the enlargement or collar on the casing to transmit the strain by means which are detachable from said elevator member and casing, and this function could obviously be effected by any means insertible between said elevator member and casing and engaging both of same so as to transmit the vertical strain, as stated.

What we claim is:

1. An apparatus for elevating Well casings, comprising a solid ring adapted to pass freely over the casing and an enlargement thereon, and freely removable and insertible split ring members adapted to be slipped into the solid ring. and fit between the solid ring and the casing and to engage under the enlargement on the casing, each of said insertible members having a fiange'extending over the top of the solid ring between the enlargement on the casing and the top of the solid ring. I

2. An apparatus for elevating well casings, comprising-asolid main ring member of sufficient internal diameter to pass freely over the casing and over an enlargement at the top of the casing, means for suspending said main ring member and a split ring removably seated within said main ring member and of internal diameter sufliciently small to engage under such enlargment at the top of the casing, said split ring and adapted to fit the casing fitting within said main ring and the engaging portions of said rings being downwardly tapering, and said split ring having lateral flanges at its upper end engaging over thetop of the main ring.

3. An apparatus for elevating well casings, comprising a solid main ring member of suflicient internal diameter to pass freely over-the casing and over an enlargement at the top of the casing, means for suspending said main ring member and a split ring removably seated within said main ring member and of internal diameter sufficiently small to engage under such enlargement at the top of the casing, and a flexible connector connected to each portion of the said split ring for suspending the split ring.

4:. An apparatus forelevating well casings comprising a solid ring adapted to pass freely over the casing and collar thereon, and means removably supported on and engaging with the top of the solid ring and constructed to engage under the enlargement on the casing to support the same, said supporting means being provided with extensions adapted to he slipped between the solid ring and the casing.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles, California this 26th day of May 1910.

EDWARD DOUBLE: ALLEN CRAIG. In presence of FREDERICK G. LYON, FRANK L. A. GRAHAM. 

